Mitchell S. Jackson is an American writer. He is the author of the 2013 novel ''The Residue Years'', as well as ''Oversoul'' (2012), an

ebook An ebook (short for electronic book), also spelled as e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in electronic form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. A ...

collection of essays and short stories. Jackson is a

Whiting Award The Whiting Award is an American award presented annually to ten emerging writers in fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama Drama is the specific Mode (literature), mode of fiction Mimesis, represented in performance: a Play (theatre), play, ...

recipient and a former winner of the

Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence The Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence is an annual national literary award designed to recognize rising African American fiction writers. First awarded in 2007, the prize is underwritten by donors of the Baton Rouge Area Foundatio ...

. In 2021, while an assistant professor of creative writing at the

University of Chicago The University of Chicago (UChicago, Chicago, or UChi) is a Private university, private research university in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Its main campus is in the Hyde Park, Chicago, Hyde Park neighborhood on Chicago's South Side, Chic ...

, he won the

Pulitzer Prize The Pulitzer Prizes () are 23 annual awards given by Columbia University in New York City for achievements in the United States in "journalism, arts and letters". They were established in 1917 by the will of Joseph Pulitzer, who had made his fo ...

and the

National Magazine Award The National Magazine Awards, also known as the Ellie Awards, honor print and digital publications that consistently demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, innovative techniques, noteworthy enterprise and imaginative design. Or ...

for Feature Writing for his profile of Ahmaud Arbery for ''

Runner's World ''Runner's World'' is a global magazine and website for runners of all abilities. It has additionally developed experiential formats, including a digital membership program, called Runner's World+. It is published by Hearst in Easton, Pennsylva ...

''. , Jackson is the John O. Whiteman Dean's Distinguished Professor in the Department of English at

Arizona State University Arizona State University (Arizona State or ASU) is a public university, public research university in Tempe, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 as Territorial Normal School by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, the university is o ...

. He has also been the recipient of fellowships from TED and the

Lannan Foundation The Lannan Literary Awards are a series of awards and literary fellowships given out in various fields by the Lannan Foundation. Established in 1989, the awards are meant "to honor both established and emerging writers whose work is of exceptional ...

. Jackson is also a public speaker and documentarian.

Biography

Jackson was born in Portland, Oregon. He was raised by a single mother. In his youth, he was arrested on drug charges and sent to prison, where he took an interest in literature and began experimenting with autobiographical writing. Following his release in the summer of 1998, Jackson received a Master of Arts in writing from

Portland State University Portland State University (PSU) is a public research university in Portland, Oregon, United States. It was founded in 1946 as a post-secondary educational institution for World War II veterans. It evolved into a four-year college over the next ...

, as well as a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private university, private research university in New York City, New York, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a Nondenominational ...

. Jackson is a father of two.

Career

In 2012, Jackson published ''Oversoul: Stories & Essays'', an ebook compilation of short fiction and non-fiction. His debut novel, ''The Residue Years'', was released in the summer of 2013 and was praised by publications such as ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...

'', ''

The Paris Review ''The Paris Review'' is a quarterly English-language literary magazine established in Paris in 1953 by Harold L. Humes, Peter Matthiessen, and George Plimpton. In its first five years, ''The Paris Review'' published new works by Jack Kerouac, ...

'', and ''

The Sydney Morning Herald ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid newspaper published in Sydney, Australia, and owned by Nine Entertainment. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuous ...

''. Jackson is a Whiting Award recipient. ''The Residue Years'' also won The Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence and was short-listed for the Center For Fiction's Flaherty-Dunnan First novel prize, the PEN/ Hemingway award for first fiction, The Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for best fiction by a writer of African descent; it was short-listed for the William Saroyan International Prize for writing, and named an "Honor Book" by the BCALA. He has been the recipient of fellowships from TED, the Lannan Foundation, The Center For Fiction, and The Bread Loaf Writer's Conference. Jackson is the co-director, writer, and producer of ''The Residue Years: A Documentary'' (2013), a documentary film exploring the autobiographical elements of his novel of the same name. It was an Official Selection of the Portland Film Festival. It premiered on the Web at the Literary Hub website. Jackson's short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry have been published in ''Vice'', ''Esquire'', ''Gigantic Magazine'', ''Flaunt Magazine'', ''The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices That Change Our Lives'', and ''New York Tyrant'', among other publications. He was the first Black columnist for ''Esquire''. Jackson is a former TED speaker. He has also read and/or and lectured at institutions including Brown University, Middlebury College, and UMASS; at events including The

Brooklyn Book Festival The Brooklyn Book Festival is an annual book fair held in the fall in Brooklyn, New York (state), New York. It was begun in 2006 by Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, co-producers Liz Koch and Carolyn Greer who wanted to showcase the "B ...

, and the Sydney Writers' Festival; at various adult prisons and youth facilities; and for organizations including The Pathfinders of Oregon, The

PEN/Faulkner Foundation The PEN/Faulkner Foundation (est. 1980) is an independent charitable arts foundation that supports the art of fiction and encourages readers of all ages. It accomplishes this through a number of programs, including its flagship PEN/Faulkner Aw ...

, and The Volunteers of America. He has served on the faculty of New York University, Columbia University, and the University of Chicago. He is currently on the faculty at Arizona State University. Jackson published ''Survival Math: Notes on an All American Family'' in 2019. It was selected for Time's 100 Must-Read Books of 2019, NPR's Books We Love 2019, and Buzzfeed's Best Books of 2019.

Works

Books

Fiction

Collections

* ''Oversoul: Stories & Essays.'' The Collections House. 2012.

Short fiction and poetry

* "Sixty, Seventy, Eighty." ''Gigantic Magazine''. 2013. * "Oversoul." ''Vice'' – Fiction Issue. June 2012. * "An Exquisite Corpse." ''Gigantic Magazine''. October 10, 2011. * "Presidents: An Epic" ''The Frozen Moment: Contemporary Writers on the Choices That Change Our Lives''. 2011. * "Head Down, Palm Up." ''New York Tyrant''. Fall 2011. * "Luminous Days: a novel excerpt." ''Tusculum College Literary Journal'' Vol 1. 2005. * "Post Script." ''Intimacy: Erotic Stories of Love, Lust, and Marriage by Black Men''. 2004. * "Late Night". ''Sou’ Western Literary Journal''. 2003. * "Luminous Days." ''Gumbo: An Anthology of African American Writing''. 2002.

Nonfiction

* "Portrait of a Lifeguard." ''Dossier Journal''. 2008. * "Interview With Emory Douglas." ''Dossier Journal''. 2008. * "True to the Selves." ''aboutaword.com''. June 29, 2012. * "No Blood Left Behind." ''Everyday Genius''. November 15, 2012. * "My First Time." ''Davidabramsbooks.blogspot.com''. August 26, 2013. * "The Name Game." ''Bookpage''. September 2013. * "Growing Up Black in the Whitest City in America." ''Salon''. March 17, 2014. * "How to Catch A Racist: The Donald Sterling Edition." ''Guernica Mag''. May 6, 2014. * "Dear Gordon." ''Tin House Magazine''. Spring 2015. * ''Survival Math: Notes on an All-American Family.'' Scribner, 2019. * ''Twelve Minutes and a Life.'' Runner's World, 2020. * ''He Was My Role Model. My Mentor. My Supplier.'' New York Times Magazine, December 20, 2023.

Film

* ''The Residue Years: A Documentary''. 2013.

Honors

* 2004: Hurston Wright Foundation, Award For College Writers (Fiction) * 2008: Urban Artist Initiative, NYC Fellowship * 2011: Center For Fiction, Emerging Writers Fellowship * 2013: New York Times Book Review, Editor's Choice * 2013: Center For Fiction, Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, Finalist * 2013: American Book Sellers Association, Debut Dozen * 2014: Sydney Morning Herald, Pick of the Week * 2014: The New York Times Book Review, Paperback Row * 2014: Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, Winner * 2014: Lannan Literary Fellowship, Fiction * 2014: PEN / Hemingway Debut Fiction Award, Finalist * 2014: Hurston Wright Legacy Award, Finalist * 2014: Saroyan International Prize For Writing, Shortlist * 2014: Black Caucus of the American Library Association, Honor Book * 2015: Portland Community College, Diamond Alumni Award * 2015: Everybody Reads Selection, Multnomah County Library, Oregon * 2016: Whiting Writers’ Award, Winner * 2016: TED, Fellowship * 2021: National Magazine Award, Feature Writing * 2021: Pulitzer Prize, Feature Writing

References

External links

*
Interview with "The Aesthete"

"Oversoul" in Vice – Fiction Issue

"Growing Up Black In The Whitest City In America" Essay for "Salon"

Interview with "Writermag.com"

Oprah's Book Club Review of "The Residue Years"

"How to Catch a Racist"

Portland Tribune article on public speaking

Podcast of Jackson speech

YouTube video of Jackson speech

PBS Podcast Appearance

Jackson Interviewed by Tavis Smiley
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Mitchell S. Year of birth missing (living people) Living people 21st-century American writers Writers from Portland, Oregon New York University faculty Columbia University faculty Writers from New York City Portland State University alumni Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing winners New York University alumni African-American male writers